Safety shoelaces

ABSTRACT

This invention consists of shoelaces having T-shaped structure on one end and a spherical member integrally formed on the other end. The T-shaped end of the shoelace is suitably secured in the boots or shoes while the aforesaid spherical member on the other end of each shoelace firmly secures the shoelace either by passing through an opening in the upper side of the boot or shoe or by being suitably secured to an inverted T-shaped structure or the like on the shoe. The aforesaid securing member may or may not be covered by a hinged lid or flap that is located in the instep of the boot or shoe.

United States Patent Partagas 1541 :SAFETY SHOELACES [72] Inventor: Catalina Partagas, 2712 Wilderness Way, North Las Vegas, Nev. 89030 [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,115

[51] Int. Cl. ..A43b 23/00, A43c 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..24/143 A, 143 B, 143, 118,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,359 12/1926 Campbell ..24/117 3,526,977 9/1970 Partagas ..36/50 304,364 9/1884 Sheffield ..24/1 17 1,090,438 3/1914 Leon .24/1 17 1,685,489 9/1928 .lansen.....- ..24/143 2,004,702 6/1935 Luttmann ..24/143 13 i1 1 3,683,520 1451 Aug. is, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 918,137 9/1954 Germany ..36/50 1,202,781 1/1960 France ..36/50 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak 57 ABSTRACT This invention consists of shoelaces having T-shaped structure on one end and a spherical member integrally formed on the other end. The T-shaped end of the shoelace is suitably secured in the boots or shoes while the aforesaid spherical member on the other end of each shoelace firmly secures the shoelace either by passing through an opening in the upper side of the boot or shoe or by being suitably secured to an inverted T-shaped structure or the like on the shoe. The aforesaid securing member may or may not be covered by a hinged lid or flap that is located in the instep of the boot or shoe.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR CAmL/NA PARTAGAS Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CATALINA PARTAG'AS SAFETY SI-IOELACES This invention relates to boots or shoes; more particularly, to boots or shoes having shoelaces that do not require tying for the holding of the shoes on the feet.

Since man began wearing boots or shoes secured by means of shoelaces, there has been some difficulty keeping the laces tied. Shoelaces have therefore been a contributing cause, if not the major cause, of accidents that have resulted in both personal injury and/or destruction of property. In fact, shoelaces have been known to be the cause of a number of deaths,particularly among babies and small children who were wearing boots or shoes having laces.

' It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide improved safety shoelaces of the character herein described that do notrequire the tying of the outer portions into knots.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved safety shoelaces thathave ends that cannot accidentally get hooked into a foreign object.

Still another object of this invention is to provide-improved safety shoelaces of the character herein described that provide a new, novel, and pleasing appearance to the feet of the wearer.

Other and further objects of this invention will no doubt appear to those experienced in the art as well as to others as the reading of this disclosure of the invention continues and the claims appended thereto are read with care when taken into consideration with the examination of the drawings forming a part of this disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a detail of that portion of this invention indicated by the arrowed line and number 1 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a typical baby boot or shoe having this invention incorporated therein.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of one detail of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a front pictorial view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but having part of a shoelace secured thereto.

FIG. 6 is a view of a typical shoelace made according to the disclosure of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a side pictorial view of a typical childs boot or shoe, having a modified form of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a front pictorial view of a typical child's boot or shoe, having still another form of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of that detail of this invention indicated by the arrowed line and the number 9 in FIG. 8 but with the lid or flap in an open position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of that detail of this invention indicated by the arrowed line and the number 10 in FIG. 9.

In the several views of the accompanying drawings the boot is indicated by the capital letter B while the shoelace is indicated by the reference number 12.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the shoelace 12 is placed in the openings of a boot B in the usual manner.

One end of the aforesaid shoelace 12 is provided with a T-shaped end 13 while the other end of the shoelace is provided with a spherical end 14 which is compressed and forced through the opening 15 in the aforesaid baby boot B, thus firmly securing the boot on the foot of the baby. The just-mentioned shoelace 12 is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings while the shoelace in a completely secured position in the baby boot B is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. It should be noted at this time that the opening 15 in the baby boot B is encompassed by an elliptical cord 16 whichis a decoration secured on the side of the baby boot.

Directing ones attention to FIGS. 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings it is seen that a safety hook 17, that is a T-shaped device having a disc-like base 18, can be used in place of the opening 15 in the baby boot B for a means of securing the spherical end 14 of the shoelace 12 in place on the baby boot although the boot itself is not shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 for reasons of clarity.

. Looking now at FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 it will be seen that there is herein provided two optional ways of securing this novel and improved safety shoelace 12 in place in a baby boot. In FIG. 7, the shoelace 12 is illustrated as being threaded in the baby boot B from the top to the bottom instead of from the bottom to the top, as is illustrated in the previously described FIGS. 2 and 4 of this disclosure. When the shoelace 12 is used in the manner shown in FIG. 7, a rectangular container 19, that is secured to the boot by any desired means, having rounded ends 20 and a hinged lid 21 is suitably secured to the instep of the baby boot B or a shoe and the spherical end 14 of the shoelace 12 is forced through an opening in the aforesaid hinged lid 21 of the rectangular container 19. The container 22, likewise secured to the boot by any desired means, illustrated in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, is provided with a novel fastener 23 that is illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings. In this application of the safety shoelace 12, the fastener 23 is located in the bottom 24 of the container which is provided with an opening for the shoelace, as

one can see by looking at FIG. 9 of the drawings. The

material and/or combination of materials.

The way in .which this novel improved safety shoelace is used is so obvious from examination of the accompanying drawings as to require no additional explanation.

This invention is not only adaptable to baby boots and the like but also to nearly any form of footwear requiring shoelaces. It applies to boots and/or shoes worn by civilians, by military personnel, or by sportsmen.

This invention is subject to any and all changes one may care to make in so long as the changes and/or modifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.

What I now claim as new and desire to secure by grant of Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a shoelace and a boot, said shoelace having an integral member at each end thereof said members having a shape and size which prevents normal passage thereof through an eyelet of said boot, at least one of said integral members being compressible, said boot having a plurality of eyelets therein through each of which said shoelace is threaded and said boot having exterior means thereon for securing one of said shoelace ends.

tion of said shoelace end is secured.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a rectangular container having a flap top and an eyelet therein through which said shoelace is threaded, said container being secured adjacent to the instep on the exterior of said boot.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said container is provided with hook fastening means therein for securing said shoelace. 

1. In combination, a shoelace and a boot, said shoelace having an integral member at each end thereof said members having a shape and size which prevents normal passage thereof through an eyelet of said boot, at least one of said integral members being compressible, said boot having a plurality of eyelets therein through each of which said shoelace is threaded and said boot having exterior means thereon for securing one of said shoelace ends.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said shoelace end members comprises a compressible sphere and the other comprises a T-shaped member.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said shoelace comprises a single straNd.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises an elliptical cord secured on the upper exterior of said boot having adjacent strands for retaining said shoelace end therebetween.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a hook member around which a portion of said shoelace end is secured.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a rectangular container having a flap top and an eyelet therein through which said shoelace is threaded, said container being secured adjacent to the instep on the exterior of said boot.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said container is provided with hook fastening means therein for securing said shoelace. 